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Lot Essay
This endangered species strap is shown for display purposes only and is not for sale. The watch will be supplied with a calf leather strap.
Entirely unique, this extraordinary platinum Vagabondage 1 was especially commissioned as a personalized gift for the present owner, the former seven-times Formula 1 World Champion racing driver Michael Schumacher from his early mentor at Ferrari, Jean Todt. This remarkable watch perfectly demonstrates the close bond between François-Paul Journe and Ferrari’s former CEO, Jean Todt. The stunning red dial immediately captures the attention, around its circumference are symbols representing Michael Schumacher’s 7 World Championship victories for himself and Ferrari, Schumacher’s racing helmet and the Ferrari emblem.
A historic and very personal piece of Formula 1 memorabilia, this timepiece not only features the unique dial but also bears an engraved personal gift dedication on the 18k gold movement from Jean Todt to Michael Schumacher for Christmas 2004. The case is engraved 'Piece Unique'.
In addition to its extraordinary provenance and unique personalization, this Vagabondage 1 is also historically highly important in the history of F.P. Journe as one of the earliest examples of the model ever to be made – in fact, three years before the Vagabondage was launched commercially in 2006. When it was presented by Jean Todt to Michael Schumacher for Christmas 2004, this watch would have been completely unique in private hands and probably the very first Vagabondage ever to be fitted with a rose gold movement. The three examples provided by F.P. Journe for the 2004 ‘Only Watch’ auction having brass movements. This demonstrates that F.P. Journe went to great lengths to provide a truly special and unique timepiece for a truly special sporting legend, a watch model that at the time nobody else could own.
Undoubtedly one of the great prizes for enthusiasts of both F.P. Journe and Formula 1, this watch provides collectors with not only the opportunity to obtain one of F.P. Journe’s rarest models but to also own a unique example with incredible and direct provenance to one of the world’s greatest ever Formula 1 Champions.
F.P. Journe’s Vagabondage
The origin and story of the ‘Vagabondage’ wristwatch is a fascinating one. As early as 1997, François-Paul Journe had in fact made a unique special order automatic wristwatch called the ‘Carpe Diem’ with wandering jump-hours around a central visible balance. However, the catalyst for the production in series of a similar watch that was to become known as the ‘Vagabondage’ was the request to provide a unique timepiece to be sold for the benefit of the ICM Foundation in 2003. As time was of the essence, Journe decided to revisit some of his already planned but archived designs for a flat tortue-shaped wristwatch with wandering jump-hour time display revolving around a visible balance and escapement. Eventually, not one, but three unique pieces cased in rose, yellow and white gold and fitted with brass movements and with no signature on the dial were delivered for the ICM charity auction. Now christened the ‘Vagabondage’ in homage to its wandering hours display, the first commercial series of wristwatches was manufactured from 2006 in a limited edition of 69 pieces cased in platinum and 68 pieces in pink gold. A further 10 examples were made set with baguette-cut diamonds. The new model had the distinctive ‘Tortue’ 18k pink gold case and a new rose gold hand-wound movement, the calibre 1504. The dial featured digital jumping hours in a wandering aperture that circled the dial to indicate the minutes on the outer track. In the centre is an aperture to exhibit the balance and escapement.
In 2010, ‘Vagabondage II’ was launched. This watch is different in design to I and displays through a ‘smoked’ sapphire crystal dial the jumping minutes as well as the digital jumping hours by means of three separate discs. It also features two further additions, a small subsidiary seconds dial and a power reserve sector.
The third and last model, ‘Vagabondage III’ was available from 2017. A technical and visual triumph, this model showcases several further Journe innovations including being the first ever wristwatch to feature jumping digital seconds. In addition, the wheel train incorporates another of F.P. Journe classic mechanisms, a one-minute remontoire d’égalité in order to regulate the power required for the jumping discs.
Entirely unique, this extraordinary platinum Vagabondage 1 was especially commissioned as a personalized gift for the present owner, the former seven-times Formula 1 World Champion racing driver Michael Schumacher from his early mentor at Ferrari, Jean Todt. This remarkable watch perfectly demonstrates the close bond between François-Paul Journe and Ferrari’s former CEO, Jean Todt. The stunning red dial immediately captures the attention, around its circumference are symbols representing Michael Schumacher’s 7 World Championship victories for himself and Ferrari, Schumacher’s racing helmet and the Ferrari emblem.
A historic and very personal piece of Formula 1 memorabilia, this timepiece not only features the unique dial but also bears an engraved personal gift dedication on the 18k gold movement from Jean Todt to Michael Schumacher for Christmas 2004. The case is engraved 'Piece Unique'.
In addition to its extraordinary provenance and unique personalization, this Vagabondage 1 is also historically highly important in the history of F.P. Journe as one of the earliest examples of the model ever to be made – in fact, three years before the Vagabondage was launched commercially in 2006. When it was presented by Jean Todt to Michael Schumacher for Christmas 2004, this watch would have been completely unique in private hands and probably the very first Vagabondage ever to be fitted with a rose gold movement. The three examples provided by F.P. Journe for the 2004 ‘Only Watch’ auction having brass movements. This demonstrates that F.P. Journe went to great lengths to provide a truly special and unique timepiece for a truly special sporting legend, a watch model that at the time nobody else could own.
Undoubtedly one of the great prizes for enthusiasts of both F.P. Journe and Formula 1, this watch provides collectors with not only the opportunity to obtain one of F.P. Journe’s rarest models but to also own a unique example with incredible and direct provenance to one of the world’s greatest ever Formula 1 Champions.
F.P. Journe’s Vagabondage
The origin and story of the ‘Vagabondage’ wristwatch is a fascinating one. As early as 1997, François-Paul Journe had in fact made a unique special order automatic wristwatch called the ‘Carpe Diem’ with wandering jump-hours around a central visible balance. However, the catalyst for the production in series of a similar watch that was to become known as the ‘Vagabondage’ was the request to provide a unique timepiece to be sold for the benefit of the ICM Foundation in 2003. As time was of the essence, Journe decided to revisit some of his already planned but archived designs for a flat tortue-shaped wristwatch with wandering jump-hour time display revolving around a visible balance and escapement. Eventually, not one, but three unique pieces cased in rose, yellow and white gold and fitted with brass movements and with no signature on the dial were delivered for the ICM charity auction. Now christened the ‘Vagabondage’ in homage to its wandering hours display, the first commercial series of wristwatches was manufactured from 2006 in a limited edition of 69 pieces cased in platinum and 68 pieces in pink gold. A further 10 examples were made set with baguette-cut diamonds. The new model had the distinctive ‘Tortue’ 18k pink gold case and a new rose gold hand-wound movement, the calibre 1504. The dial featured digital jumping hours in a wandering aperture that circled the dial to indicate the minutes on the outer track. In the centre is an aperture to exhibit the balance and escapement.
In 2010, ‘Vagabondage II’ was launched. This watch is different in design to I and displays through a ‘smoked’ sapphire crystal dial the jumping minutes as well as the digital jumping hours by means of three separate discs. It also features two further additions, a small subsidiary seconds dial and a power reserve sector.
The third and last model, ‘Vagabondage III’ was available from 2017. A technical and visual triumph, this model showcases several further Journe innovations including being the first ever wristwatch to feature jumping digital seconds. In addition, the wheel train incorporates another of F.P. Journe classic mechanisms, a one-minute remontoire d’égalité in order to regulate the power required for the jumping discs.